So here's the deal...
Some of you might remember me posting a while ago to express some uncertainty about the new job I was expecting to take in March, after my maternity pay from my current job ran out. It turns out these worries were well founded. The school I was meant to join closed with no warning at all, leaving me with suddenly no plan.
This was rough for a number of reasons. Firstly, we're not poor, but we're definitely not rich. We're farmers - by definition it's a working-class income at best. And with a kid coming, the timing couldn't have been worse. My decision to have a home birth meant that a big chunk of the costs were suddenly outside insurance, but I justified that by reminding myself that I work and I could afford it. Suddenly I couldn't and that was really scary.
Also, I WORK. I've ALWAYS worked. Ever since I was 15, I've always had some kind of job. Sure, sometimes it paid a pittance, but at least it was something. A big part of my identity is tied up in my idea of myself as a worker and I've never been that close to umemployed before. It really shook me.
So I went off LJ and off all my other online funsies. I kept stuff going with my fest, because I'm a mod and I owe that to the participants, but other than that all my internet time was devoted to searching job ads, calling in contacts, arranging interviews. I'm in my third trimester; it was exhausting. But for the sake of my own mental well being, I needed to find something.
I have. I have a new contract, one year initially, starting in March. This is a HUGE school with an international reputation; I'm as certain as it's possible to be that they won't be closing any time soon.
Thanks guys, for not defriending me when I disappeared like that. I can relax now and I'll be able to have LJ fun times again! I really missed you all and I'm thrilled to be back!
This was rough for a number of reasons. Firstly, we're not poor, but we're definitely not rich. We're farmers - by definition it's a working-class income at best. And with a kid coming, the timing couldn't have been worse. My decision to have a home birth meant that a big chunk of the costs were suddenly outside insurance, but I justified that by reminding myself that I work and I could afford it. Suddenly I couldn't and that was really scary.
Also, I WORK. I've ALWAYS worked. Ever since I was 15, I've always had some kind of job. Sure, sometimes it paid a pittance, but at least it was something. A big part of my identity is tied up in my idea of myself as a worker and I've never been that close to umemployed before. It really shook me.
So I went off LJ and off all my other online funsies. I kept stuff going with my fest, because I'm a mod and I owe that to the participants, but other than that all my internet time was devoted to searching job ads, calling in contacts, arranging interviews. I'm in my third trimester; it was exhausting. But for the sake of my own mental well being, I needed to find something.
I have. I have a new contract, one year initially, starting in March. This is a HUGE school with an international reputation; I'm as certain as it's possible to be that they won't be closing any time soon.
Thanks guys, for not defriending me when I disappeared like that. I can relax now and I'll be able to have LJ fun times again! I really missed you all and I'm thrilled to be back!
